Extending Vase life of Sri Lankan Sudu Nelum /White Lotus (Nymphaea lotus) Using selective preservatives.

1. Extending Vase life of Sri Lankan
Sudu Nelum /White Lotus
(Nymphaea lotus) Using selective
preservatives.

2. CONTENT
01
• - Introduction with justification
• - Objectives (overall and specific)
• - Materials and methods
• - Activity plan
• - Budget
• - Research outputs and outcomes
• - References
02

3. Introduction
with
justification

4. Introduction with justification
 The Sudu Nelum or White Lotus (Nymphaea lotus) belongs to family Nymphaeceae.
 It is used as an ornamental plant because of its spectacular flowers and is most
commonly used for traditional and cultural festivals in Sri Lanka. Further, used for
religious purpose, floral decorations and cosmetics.
02
03
 At some of period these flower demand will be increased.
 Due to improper way of transportation and rough
handling, the flowers end up with poor quality and partial
wilted.
 So, at there most of the people face a huge problem due to
the shorten vase life of white lotus.

5. Introduction with justification
 The general practice observed at the market is just collect the flowers and display
them for selling without any postharvest treatment except dipping the flower stems
in water buckets.
 Both retail sellers and florists are seeking a proper postharvest treatment to
extend the vase life of white lotus.
 Postharvest treatments should be developed which could be affordable for the
people engaged in this business, considering the cost of the treatment.
02
04

6. Objectives
(overall and specific)

7. 03
05
 To extending vase life of Sri Lankan Sudu Nelum /White Lotus (Nymphaea lotus)
using selective preservatives.
 To select different treatment solutions based on ISO 13365 : 2020 Standards.
 To measure different quality parameters of the Sri Lankan Sudu Nelum /White
Lotus using visual observation.
 To evaluate best composition of selective preservatives for white lotus flower.
 To prepare evaluation sheet based on community-based physical properties &
freshness index.
 General objective
 Specific objective

8. Materials &
methods

9. Materials
02
06
 White lotus flowers (25cm from the first floret)
 CaCl 0.5% (5g/1L of Distilled water)
 Al (SO ) 200ppm (200mg/1L of Distilled water)
 Clorox 0.5% (5ml/1L of Distilled water)
 Citric acid 0.6% (6g/1L of Distilled
water)
 Sugar solution 1.0% (10g/1L of Distilled
water)
 Control solution (tap water, Distilled water)
2
4 3
2
Accordingly to - ISO 13365 : 2020 Standard

10. Methodology
02
07
1. Select location & plant materials
Mainly consider about,
 Selective climatic condition environment.
 Harvested flowers.
 Different stage of flower.
 Pre-harvest factors ( cutting stem angle, height and harvesting index (fresh flowers).
2. Material collection
• The identity known white lotus flowers will be collected from Anuradhapura area in Sri Lanka.
• Stem of flowers store without water during transportation. (40 flowers need to take for experiment)
• Before treatment, all stems recut under water leaving 25cm from the first floret. (45° cutting angle)

11. Methodology
02
08
3. Prepare treatment solutions
• Select main five preservatives with different concentrations.
 Such as CaCl , Al (SO ) , Clorox, Citric acid and Sugar solution Or their combinations.
• Also, will be used distilled water or tap water as control experiment.
• The stems of all cut flowers place in half arak bottle which contain 300ml of solutions
4. Evaluation of quality & quantity parameters
Through visual observations will be checked the changes in different quality parameters during 7 days.
 wilting of sepals
 Petal colour
 Petiole rigidity
 Fading of petal color
 flower bud length
 corolla tube length
 Flower bud diameter
 open flower diameter
2 2 4 3

12. 02
09
 Treatment solution
apply with different
concentrations
6
7
Treatment solutions

13. Evaluation sheet
02
09
 Prepare sheets for test
quality parameters and
corresponding scores
for white lotus flowers

14. Methodology
02
10
5. Evaluation of freshness index
• Freshness index of white lotus will be computed to determine the commercially acceptance periods of
flowers after harvesting during peak flowering seasons.
• The freshness index decreased with increase in senescence.
• The experiment will be measured freshness index,
Immediately after harvest, 24 hrs after harvest, 12 hrs after harvest, 48 hrs after harvest of flower.
Experiment
Design
 The treatment will arrange with complete randomized design (CRD) with three replicates.
 40 flowers will take for the experiment and best flowers were given low scores of 1.
 Maximum scores for deteriorated qualities.
 Data analyze system : SAS (statistical analysis system) software.

15. Activity plan

16. 08
11
Activities
Timeline
Six Month
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6
 Literature review
 Select location & Material collection
 Prepare treatment solutions
 Determination of quality parameters.
 Determination of quantity parameters.
 Determination of freshness index
 Data analysis
 Report writing

17. Budget /
outputs & outcomes

18. 09
 Fund will provide by the Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo.
Budget
12
Research Outputs & Outcomes
Research output
 Increased local market value and demand for fresh white lotus flower.
 To get the degree in Bachelor of Bio Systems Technology (BBST) in Agricultural
Technology.
 High impact journal publications and scientific communications/abstracts
 Enhance image about quality of local floriculture sector in Sri Lanka.

19. 09
Research Outputs & Outcomes
13
Research outcomes
 Loss Prevention in transportation to ensure product quality of white lotus flower in
the Sri Lanka.
 Create a reasonable price for white lotus flowers and bouquets.
 In the long run, Create high demand and the floriculture related businesses in Sri
Lanka.
 Enhance a better post-harvest management cycle for local cut flowers.

20. References

21. 09
References
14
 D.M.U.B. Dhanasekera., 1998 Cut Flower Production in Asia. Superintendent, Royal Botanic
Gardens, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Rap publication: 1998/14
 Coplans, Barbara., 1980. Methodist and Sinhalese Buddhism: the Wesleyan Methodist Encounter
with Buddhism in Ceylon 1814–1864, with special reference to the work of Robert Spence Hardy,
University of Leeds. Part One.
 Halevy., A.H. and Mavak, 1974, Improvement of cut flower quality and longevity of preship
treatments. Acta Hrticultural,43:355-357.
 ISO Standard 13365 : 2020. Postharvest Treatment of Specialty Cut Flowers. The Cut Flower
Quarterly in ISO Standars 27(1). (Winter, 2015)
 RMB Environmental Laboratories., 2013 Quality Assurance Manual Revision 15, 2013/05/Sample-
Collection-and-Preservation-List, Page 16
 Khan M A, Muthuswamy S and Raman K R.,1970. An evaluation of morphological variations of
economic value of lotus. South Indian Horticulture 18: 95–7.
 Neduraman., C. 1977. Effect of different dates of pruning on flower bud formation, growth and
yield of flowers. MSc. (Ag) Diss. Tamil Nadu Agric. Univ. Coimbatore

22. For Your attention !
Thank you